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Pot busts of the week: the dangers of asking for directions, spending your own cash, and grabbing a burger to go

Kristine Marie Rodak, 21, of Garrison, NY , Zachary Seeip, 18, of Wappingers Falls, NY and Colin Budds, 23, of Cortland Manner NY were charged with possession of marijuana of less than 4oz and possession of drug paraphernalia on June 4, according to the police.

Police said an officer was flagged down by a lost motorist, and while he was giving the driver of the vehicle directions, he began to detect an odor of marijuana emanating from the inside of the vehicle, police said. After searching the vehicle, police said the officer found a small amount of marijuana and a glass pipe containing marijuana residue. None of the three involved took ownership of the drugs and paraphernalia, so they all received the same charges and are to appear in court on June 14, according to police.

Lydia Feinberg, 19, of Adams Farms Road, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on Friday, June 3, after police stopped her on suspicion of attempting to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at various stores around town.

Police said a local merchant alerted them that Feinberg may have been attempting to pass a fake bill and she was stopped in her car near the area. Police said as Feinberg was being patted down she pulled out a plastic bag from under her shirt that contained a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Police said there was also a glass bowl commonly used to smoke marijuana located inside the vehicle.

Feinberg reportedly told officers she was just attempting to get change for the $100 bill that her mother had given her. Upon further investigation, it was determined that in fact the bill was genuine. Feinberg posted bond and was released. She is due in court June 13.

An Elgin man was arrested early Monday after police said he smoked marijuana in the drive-up lane of the McDonald’s restaurant at 401 Summit St. — while a police car was waiting in line directly behind him, according to police.

The officer said he smelled burning marijuana as he waited in the lot about 12:30 a.m. and saw Jose S. Barrera, 21, of St. Charles Street in Elgin, blowing smoke out of the passenger-side window of the car in front of him.

The officer said he pulled over the car and found a Tupperware container full of marijuana. Barrera was charged with possession of marijuana and was released on $120 bond pending a July 22 hearing.